Citizens`Campus: From the "Last Dances" to the Discoveries to Other Patterns. Changing of the Guard in Contemporary German-Language Literature

Prof. Dr. Ilse Nagelschmidt - University of Leipzig

From the "Last Dances" via the Discoveries to Other Patterns. Changing of the Guard in Contemporary German Literature

Starting with the poetry collection "Letzte Tänze" (2007) by Günter Grass, the first part of the lecture looks at the situation of German-language literature in the 1990s between resignation, farewells and departures. In the first part, the focus is on the great interest in the GDR and life in this country from an East German perspective under the approaches of remembering and memory. In the second part, the focus shifts to West German literature and essential reflections. Finally, in the third part, the synthesis takes place. The grandchild generation has broken with taboos. Gone are the days of intellectual top-heaviness. In the awareness of taking note of the views of the older generation, but not wanting and not having to take them in, in the distrust of the big ideas and ideologies as well as the ready-made patterns lie the innovations.